He Already Knows. Matthew 6:5-13

Teaching about Prayer and Fasting

5 "When you pray, don’t be like the hypocrites who love to pray publicly on street corners and in the synagogues where everyone can see them. I tell you the truth, that is all the reward they will ever get.6 But when you pray, go away by yourself, shut the door behind you, and pray to your Father in private. Then your Father, who sees everything, will reward you.

7 "When you pray, don’t babble on and on as people of other religions do. They think their prayers are answered merely by repeating their words again and again. 8Don’t be like them, for your Father knows exactly what you need even before you ask him! 9 Pray like this:

Our Father in heaven,

may your name be kept holy.

10 May your Kingdom come soon.

May your will be done on earth,

as it is in heaven.

11 Give us today the food we need,

12 and forgive us our sins,

as we have forgiven those who sin against us.

13 And don’t let us yield to temptation,

but rescue us from the evil one.

14 “If you forgive those who sin against you, your heavenly Father will forgive you. 15 But if you refuse to forgive others, your Father will not forgive your sins.

16 "And when you fast, don’t make it obvious, as the hypocrites do, for they try to look miserable and disheveled so people will admire them for their fasting. I tell you the truth, that is the only reward they will ever get. 17 But when you fast, comb your hair and wash your face.18 Then no one will notice that you are fasting, except your Father, who knows what you do in private. And your Father, who sees everything, will reward you.

Do you pray regularly? What do you pray? Do you recite prayers you have learned in church or Sunday school? What exactly is prayer? 

To me, prayer is a conversation between me and God. When we have a conversation with someone, we don't rely on scripts. We speak from the heart, we talk about common interests, we encourage and receive encouragement. It's the same when we have a conversation with God.  

When Jesus died on the cross and the veil was torn in two from top to bottom, the barrier between us and God was removed. We no longer have to go to a high priest with our petitions. Jesus is our High Priest. 

We Don't have to be wordy, we don't have to use flowery words or flattery. We don't have to ramble on and on, we just have to talk. God knows what in our heart before we ever say it. So those times when we don't know what to say? We don't have to say anything. He already knows. 

18b And your Father, who sees everything, will reward you.

Blessings, Cecilia